Using AI, Switzerland researchers crack the code of lightning
Switzerland's leading university has found a way to predict when and where lightning will strike to the nearest 10 to 30 minutes and within a radius of 30 kilometres.
The method developed by researchers at the Lausanne federal technology institute (EPFL) combines standard data drawn from weather stations and artificial intelligence.
Lightning is one of the most unpredictable and lethal phenomena in nature. It regularly kills people and animals, sets fire to homes and forests, keeps aircraft grounded and damages power installations.
Between 6,000 and as many as 24,000 people are killed by lightning every year.
But what exactly triggers lightning remains shrouded in mystery. There is no simple technology for predicting when it will unleash its fatal powers on the ground rather than the skies.
Researchers of EPFL’s School of Engineering, led by Farhad Rachidi, have removed some of the mystery with their predictive method.
Their research has been presented in the journal Climate and Atmospheric ScienceExternal link. They now plan to use their findings in the European Laser Lightning Rod project, which aims to develop systems to protect against lighting strikes.
Fast, cheap and simple
“Current systems are slow and very complex, and they require expensive external data acquired by radar or satellite,” explains Amirhossein Mostajabi, the PhD student who came up with the technique.
“Our method uses data that can be obtained from any weather station,” he adds. “That means we can cover remote regions that are out of radar and satellite range and where communication networks are unavailable.”
What’s more, because the data can be acquired easily and in real time, predictions can be made very quickly – and alerts can be issued even before a storm has formed.
External Content
Popular Stories
More
Culture
Documentary portrays Swiss teenagers forced to return to parents’ homeland
Costs and care time increase in Swiss retirement and nursing homes
This content was published on
In 2023 the costs of retirement and nursing homes increased by 5% compared to 2022 and those of assistance and care at home by 7%. Together, they amounted to CHF15 billion.
This content was published on
Almost half of the population in Switzerland shows clear to pronounced signs of smartphone addiction, according to a survey.
Swiss healthcare stakeholders want to save CHF300 million
This content was published on
The main players in the Swiss healthcare sector want to save around CHF300 million ($340 million) in healthcare costs a year from 2026.
Switzerland supports three gas-fired power plants abroad
This content was published on
Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) is now insuring three gas-fired power plants abroad, two of them in Vietnam and one in Turkmenistan.
This content was published on
The Lufthansa Group, which includes Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has once again extended its flight ban to Israel.
Swiss hoteliers are cautiously optimistic for the winter season
This content was published on
Most Swiss hoteliers are cautiously optimistic about the coming winter season but increases costs are likely to weigh on margins.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Novartis and Microsoft to develop drugs using AI
This content was published on
Novartis and Microsoft have signed a five-year partnership aimed at transforming the Basel-based pharma’s business using AI.
Switzerland consistently leads the pack on global innovation
This content was published on
Switzerland remains the uncontested champion of innovation, leading the pack in a United Nations innovation ranking for the ninth year in a row.
Using Swiss AI and drones to count African wildlife
This content was published on
After a promising first run in Namibia, a Swiss project could aid savanna conservation using drones and automatic image analysis.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.